>>>Our decider in chief has decided that Katrina was perfectly handled by more then qualified people:
>>>
>>>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/06/AR2006100601527.html
>>
>>While I agree FEMA must be headed by someone qualified for disaster response, that agency is just a shell. They are responsible for coordinating the responses of all other Agencies like EPA, Corps of Engineers, US Coast Guard, etc. They have never had the staff necessary to actually carry out responses themselves.
>
>It seems that as a nation we have in the past been able to handle emergencies on a timely basis. Perhaps we should get our act together and be able to have a better response to emergencies. Today we may be much too sophisticated to be able to respond when there is a problem. Too many layers of bureaucracy might be our problem.
>
>Having participated in emergencies through the Red Cross and Air Force in years past we had a system that quickly enlisted the cooperation of local, state and federal agencies. The lack of action at all levels of government during the Katrina event is inexcusable.
>
>Hindsight is a good teacher.
>Soon Katrina will be a forgotten event. How have we improved our ability to respond to emergencies?


I guess we'll find out the next time a huge, unexpected disaster strikes. The Bush administration has promised us that improvements have been made. We'll see. For some reason I am skeptical about their promises at this point, can't imagine why.

Do you really think Katrina will soon be a forgotten event? That's an honest question, not a leading one. FWIW I don't. Along with the SF earthquake and fire it is IMO the biggest natural disaster in U.S. history.